The latest evidence of Google’s rapid success in mobile comes from Gartner, the research group, which said Android’s global share of the smartphone market had leapt from 1.8 per cent a year ago to 17.2 per cent in the second quarter of 2010.

Android handsets now outsell Nokia smartphones and the BlackBerry in the US.

Google’s success has provided a boost to struggling handset makers adopting Android such as Motorola and Sony Ericsson.

“We thought [Android] would be the second-largest global smartphone operating system by 2012, but we are now seeing it could be as soon as the end of this year,” said Carolina Milanesi, research vice-president at Gartner. “For a lot of companies, Android has been a godsend.”

Although the iPhone continues to gain on its rivals, the fact that it is available only from Apple and a limited number of mobile operators has constrained its growth rate compared with Android, which is free for anyone to adopt.

“Apple have gone from being the underdog and people rooting for them to seeing an increase in the level of scrutiny and criticism,” Ms Milanesi said. “Now they are seen as arrogant.”